In the United States, opposition to Israeli military actions in Gaza is on the rise. A State Department official resigned due to additional US military aid to Israel, and a group of progressive lawmakers in Congress introduced a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Additionally, Capitol police arrested hundreds of Jewish peace activists for staging anti-war protests within the Capitol building.
Read more:US vetoes in support of Israel, United Nation resolution in support of Palestine fails
On Wednesday, Josh Paul, who served as the director of congressional and public affairs at the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, publicly posted his resignation letter, expressing his dissent against the Biden administration’s pro-Israeli policies. He acknowledged the severity of Hamas’ attack on Israel but strongly believed that the Israeli response, coupled with American support, would result in more suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians. He criticized the administration’s policies as shortsighted, destructive, and unjust, ultimately stating that these actions were not in the long-term interest of the United States.
Simultaneously, a congressional resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza gained support, with lawmakers like Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush introducing the “Ceasefire Now” resolution. They stressed the moral responsibility of ending violence and called on their colleagues to support the ceasefire. Protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict also took place, leading to the arrest of at least 300 people near the US Capitol, with demonstrators demanding President Biden and Congress push for a ceasefire. The protests occurred within the Cannon House Office Building, where protests are typically not permitted, and involved a significant number of Jewish activists and descendants of Holocaust survivors.
